South Asian Aspiring Lawyers Flock to Assistance from Dedicated Durham Law Student
In an inspiring move to bridge the gap in access to reliable information about UK legal education, Sardar Muhammad Musa Khan, a Durham Law School undergraduate, launched a voluntary project titled "Your Gateway to Law School" in February 2025. The project, which is part of the ongoing collaborations between Durham Law School and institutions in Pakistan, aims to bring clarity and confidence to students in regions where such access has historically been limited, reaching over 450 students in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Musa, an alumnus of Lahore Grammar School, Islamabad, was inspired to start the project due to the limited access to reliable information about UK legal education in the regions he targeted. Musa credits Professors Philip Bennett and Pierre Schammo for enhancing his understanding of international admissions and the opportunities at Durham Law School, which he has been able to pay forward through his project.
"Your Gateway to Law School" includes a guide providing actionable advice on A-level subject selection, personal statement crafting, LNAT preparation, and navigating the university admissions process. Musa has conducted in-person and virtual presentations to liaise with students and faculty administrators across various A Level and IB programs in the mentioned countries.
The project has gained momentum and expanded into a 'cross-border' campaign. Durham Law School is looking forward to welcoming more students from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to study Law at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels. The Dean of Durham Law School, Professor Volker Roeben, has expressed his appreciation for Musa's initiative and acknowledged Durham University's tradition of supporting student-led initiatives.
Durham Law School has strong connections in the field of Law in Pakistan through collaborations with the Centre for Sustainable Development Law and Policy and the Federal Judicial Academy of Pakistan. The impact of the project is yet to be fully assessed, but there is a clear demand for the insights it offers, as indicated by student interest in Musa's presentation.
As of July 2025, Musa was placed second overall out of more than 380 first-year Law undergraduates at Durham Law School. His project, "Your Gateway to Law School," is a testament to Durham University's commitment to diversifying its global student body, which is part of the "Durham Difference." With his initiative, Musa is paving the way for more students from South Asia to pursue their dreams of studying Law at Durham Law School and beyond.
Musa's project, "Your Gateway to Law School," emphasizes the importance of education-and-self-development through learning, as it offers a comprehensive guide and presentations on A-level subject selection, personal statement crafting, LNAT preparation, and university admissions process, aiming to ease access to reliable information about UK legal education. This initiative reflects Musa's ongoing commitment to fostering growth in regions with historically limited resources, reaching over 450 students in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
